"How the Tragic Loss of His Two Best Friends Forced Anthony Joshua to Reflect on His Life"

ANTHONY JOSHUA will have reevaluated his whole life after witnessing the tragic death of his two best friends.

In late December, just a couple of weeks after the silly-money win over YouTuber , the 36-year-old London 2012 legend was in a devastating car crash in Nigeria.

The late Latif Ayodele, left, and Sina Ghami with Anthony Joshua Credit: INSTAGRAM@EDDIEHEARN Joshua ahead of his comeback fight Credit: Getty

Pals and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were killed instantly but, by some miracle, AJ walked away with just damaged ribs.

The mental and emotional turmoil remains to be seen but he returns to the ring

And cruiserweight stablemate Viddal Riley and friend of 20 years Troy Deeney explained to SunSport’s No Glove Lost show that Joshua – as we knew him – will never be the same again.

Former Watford striker and , 38, told us: “I think it’s a really interesting fight for AJ, because all of the questions, never about his ability, never about whether he can iron somebody out.

“Obviously, with all the tragedy that he’s gone through in the past year, it’s all about where he’s at mentally.

“I lost my dad. My dad died at 47. Before that, everything was great and I had my dad around, then you hit a low – but there does come a new up.

“I feel like AJ’s on that new up where he’s hit this ultimate low, he’s lost his friends, he’s had his life flashed before his eyes.

“And now he’s in a situation where he thinks: ‘f*** it. What’s the worst that could happen? I lose? I’ve already suffered loss.’”

Joshua spoke wonderfully at the launch press conference for this Saudi Arabia fight back in May.

Behind dark glasses in a Shepherds Bush basement, and the possible toll it could take on the rest of his career.

Since then he has done a full and intense , starting in Spain and finishing in Dubai, facing up to the glaring voids where his two brothers in arms used to be throughout camps and day-to-day life.

And Riley – who is signed to the 258 management firm Joshua founded – believes it will be the making, and not the breaking, of the two-time heavyweight world champion.

The 29-year-old Tottenham boxer said: “Nothing makes you revamp, revisit, recalculate, than being faced with mortality.

“We know mortality exists, but when it’s that close to you, it’s going to affect you.

Joshua’s last outing was against Jake Paul Credit: AFP Before that he was beaten in by fellow Brit Daniel Dubois Credit: PA AJ has teamed up with Usyk as he looks to reach a new level in the ring Credit: Instagram @usykaa

“What matters? What is my passion? What do I want to focus on? If I was to be in that position prematurely, how would I want to leave?

“And AJ has made that decision that he’s putting all of his energy and everything into boxing.

“That’s why he is the flag bearer for British boxing. It’s not purely based on ability and looks, it comes down to your mentality.

“It comes down to your resolve, your resilience. He’s been through ups and downs in life, most recently the tragic accident that happened.

“He’s obviously dealing with it in his way. Maybe relocating and finding a new team – forming a new brotherhood – has been a way of helping deal with that situation.

“I mean, if he was still at home with the people he’s used to being around, I think he’s going to feel that extra bit more.

“But being away, having the team, having the new set-up, it’s more for him to lean into that team and embrace that team than to focus on the loss.

“Because that’s never going to leave you.”